Radiator cap



Nov' H. Y. HOOPER RADIATORv CAP Filed Feb. a, 1924 l INVENTOR A RNEYS j Cil Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES HENRY Y. HOOEER, OF

NEW'ARK, NEW JERSEY.

RADIATOR CAP.

Application :filed February This invention relates to caps for the tiller-neclrs ot automobile radiators and more particularly to caps ot' this type having associated therewith a temperature indicatingl device whereby a visual indicationot the temperature of the water in the radiator 1s aiiorded.

The invention seeks to provide acap for the filler-neck of the radiator found on the Ford automobile which shall have operatively associated therewith what is known in the trade as a Boyce motoineter and which can be readily and conveniently attached without the aid of special tools or experience, but which, once attached cannot be normally removed, ready means being` at forded tor filling` the radiator without removal ot the cap. Accordingly the cap is so formed as to be readily slipped over the filler-neck and is provided with devices permitting the application of the cap but preventing` its removal once it is in place.

rlhe invention also seeks to provide means whereby the radiator may be conveniently lilled without completely disassociating the motometer from the cap. To this end the aperture in the cap through which the radiator is to be lilled is provided with a hinged cover which has the motometer permanently secured thereto and which is adapted to be releasably retained in closing relation with the cap.

rlhese and other objects ot the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the accompanying; drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment ot the invention in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation showing the filler-neel; ot an automobile radiator provided with a cap according` to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation taken in the plane indicated by the broken line 2 2 in Figure l.

The filler-neck a is shown in Figure l as permanently carried with an automobile radiator, the upper portion of which is indicated in outline at a. In Figure 2 the upper portion of the filler-neck is shown in elevation and is formed of gradually narrowing` diameter for a substantial portion of its length while the eXtreme upper portion a2 of the neck is of increased diameter to form the shoulder 013. As furnished with a Ford automobile, the upper portion a2 of the Eller-neck is interiorly threaded to re- 8, 1924. serial no. 691,357.

ceive a closing plug. Such a plug has been found inconvenient however, since it is easily lost and moreover does not atlord a suitable base for a temperature indicating device such as a motometer. lt is proposed, therefore, to substitute `for the standard threaded plug furnished with Ford cars a cap coniprlsed principally ot a sulistantially cylindrical cap element ZJ which is adapted to be slipped over the filler-neck a and held against removal therefrom. To this end the interior wall is formed with a plurality oi' recesses b having leai springs b2 secured therein in any convenient manner, by rivets b3, and so termed as to normally er;- tend outward, as shown in Figure 2, to engage the shoulder on the filler-neck. lt will be apparent that when the cap is being` slipped on over the neck the upper portion a2 will torce the springs b2 back into the recesses to permit the passage ot that portion or' the -hller-neclr but that after the cap is in place the springs will spring` out ot the recess to engage the shoulder and prevent withdrawal oi the cap thereafter. 'lhus a permanent junction between the cap and liller-neclr can be obtained by the most inexperienced and this junction is one which requires no tools to eliect. The cylindrical portion is most conveniently provided with an interiorly projecting flange b4 adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the fillerneck. To form a tight joint between the cap and filler-neck a gasket c ot libre or yielding material may be provided therebetween.

The interiorly extendinglflange t* also serves as a seat for the cover Z closing the open end of the cylindrical portion b which cover is hinged at the pivot d whereby it may be swung in the direction ot the arrow about the pivot as an aXis to uncover the opening in the liller-nech through which the radiator is to be filled with water. In closing position the cover is secured by means of a spring,` latch b5 secured as by a rivet b in a recess in the cap and normally extending' inwardly as illustrated to yieldingly engage a lip cl2 on the cover. lt is preferred to strike out from latch 5 a lip L? which normally lies over the lip (Z2 on the cover to further assist in retaining` it in closing position.

The visual temperature indicating device designated in general at e may be of standard construction and is permanently carried by the cover l as will be understood. It will thus loe seen that the inotonieter is secured to the cap in a inanner which renders it practically impossible of removal Without destroying the hinge of the cover by ineans of tools and is therefore unlikely to loe stolen in the ordinary course of events.

The cap as a Whole is nea-t in appearance, simple in construction and its permanent application to the iiller-neck of radiators of the contemplated type is easy of acconiplishinent. Various modifications inay be lmade in the nianner oil securing the cap to the filler-neck and in closing the lling opening as WellV as in the type of temperature indicating device associated therewith Without departing from the spirit and scope' ot the invention and no liniitation is intended eXcept as indicated in the acco'inpanying claiins.

l/Vhat I claim is:

l.v The combination With an automobile radiator filler-neck orined With a shoulder, of a cap including a (cylindrical portion whereof the inner Wall is formed with a recess, a resilient ineinhercarried in the recess for engagement with the shoulder, a cover hinged at one end of the cylindrical portion, ineans carried by the cylindrical portion to releasably engage the cover and a temperature indicating,- device carried by the cover. 2. As an article of manufacture, a radiator cap to be locked onto an automobile radiator having a filler-neck :tornied With a shoulderedportion, comprising a cylindrical portion having the inner Wall orined with a plurality. ot.' recesses at its'lower end and a recess at its upper end, a plurality of resilient fingers carried in the loiver recesses to engage the shoulder of the fillernecl, a cover on the upper end of the cylindrical portion, Vand a resilient catch carried in the upper recess to vnormally engage the cover.v

This specification signed this 18th day of January, A. D. 1924.

HENRY Y. HOOPER. 

